EmpowHER
Boise State Celebrates NGWSD
Boise State Athletics proudly celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day. This year, in collaboration with Maddyn Homes, Boise State highlighted the stories of three female Bronco student-athletes that showcase how sports have empowered their lives.
This season, Maddyn Homes launched an EmpowHER Play campaign. Every donation made to support women’s sports is amplified through a match from Maddyn Homes, fueling the future of female athletes at Boise State and beyond. If you're interested in donating to advance women's sports at Boise State, click here.
JULIA KIESLER
Julia Kiesler joined the Boise State cross country and track & field program in 2023 following a standout career at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Indiana.
The transition from high school to collegiate competition proved seamless for the Indiana native. Kiesler was immediately inserted into the Broncos’ cross country lineup, making her collegiate debut at the University of San Francisco Invitational on Sept. 1, 2023, where she finished ninth. She followed that performance with a 20th-place finish at the Griak Invitational on Sept. 22, 2023, competing against one of the nation’s deeper fields.
Her consistent performances throughout the regular season earned her a spot in the Broncos’ lineup for the 2023 Mountain West Cross Country Championships, hosted by Boise State in Eagle, Idaho. Kiesler posted a season-best time of 20:43.8 to finish 16th overall and was the top freshman finisher in the field, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors.
Poised for continued success during the track season, Kiesler was sidelined for an extended period due to injury, forcing her away from competition. While the time away from the sport presented challenges, it also provided an opportunity for growth beyond her sport.
As a runner for most of her life, time away from the sport was not easy for Kiesler. Running had long been central to her identity, and stepping back forced her to reframe her relationship with the sport. Through that process, she found new motivation to invest her time in giving back to the community.
“Taking time off was really challenging for me,” said Kiesler. “So I decided to focus everything outward and help others who might be in a more difficult situation than me.”
Athletes are provided with a range of resources at the collegiate level, including team-issued gear throughout the season. As her collection of shoes continued to grow, Kiesler saw an opportunity to make a difference. In 2024, she partnered with BroncoPro to organize a campus-wide shoe drive benefiting local youth organizations. Following the success of the initial effort, Kiesler expanded the initiative in 2025, collecting more than 200 pairs of shoes for those in need.
“As a student athlete we’re given a platform, and I’m excited to use that to share my story, help inspire younger athletes and encourage those who are going through rough times to keep pushing through,” Kiesler added.
KYLEE HAMBY
For Boise State gymnastics senior Kylee Hamby, “Flyin’ Ky” isn’t just her Instagram handle. It’s what she does best. “I feel like I’m flying whenever I’m on bars,” she said. “I really enjoy it.”
The senior is a stalwart in the Boise State bars lineup, anchoring the Broncos on the apparatus in every meet this season and competing in all 23 meets during her freshman and sophomore seasons. She is averaging nearly 9.800 on bars this season, the top mark on the team. An impressive feat for any athlete, but especially notable for someone who missed the entire 2025 season. Hamby dealt with injuries and was sidelined while the Broncos won the Mountain West regular season title, one year after she helped the team capture the inaugural MW crown. “I’ve never not had a season where I competed, it was kind of a shock,” she said.
Hamby’s career began when she was just three years old, growing up in Edmond, Oklahoma. She climbed the ranks throughout the years, winning state titles and qualifying for nationals as a Level 10 gymnast in 2019 and 2021. When it came time to weigh her options, Hamby knew a college career was her goal. She came to Boise State on an official visit and immediately knew it was where she wanted to be. Despite being nearly 1,500 miles from her hometown, Hamby committed to the Broncos.
“I knew it would be a little scary coming all the way from Oklahoma, but I knew it was something I would invest in and enjoy,” she said.
To say she has made the most of the opportunity would be an understatement. In her first three years, she helped the Broncos qualify for NCAA Regionals each season, competing on the national stage as a freshman and sophomore. She has been successful in the classroom, earning WCGA Scholastic All-America honors three times and MW Scholar-Athlete recognition twice.
After sitting out her junior campaign, she was determined to make an impact as a senior. “I want to make sure I soak it all in, especially with it being the last year,” she said. “It’s really fun and empowering to see how far I’ve come.”
Head coach Tina Bird has witnessed Hamby’s growth and development into a leader for the Broncos. “Kylee brings energy, leadership and positivity to our team every single day,” Bird said. “As a senior, she’s a joy to be around and a constant motivator in practice, pushing everyone to be better.”
Her impact is not only felt by her teammates, but future gymnasts as well. “It started with the enjoyment of it all and I feel like I’ve been able to inspire others who are younger than me,” Hamby said. “I’ve been in their shoes before, so I like to know I’m empowering them as well.”
ALLYSON ALDEN
Since Allyson Alden arrived in the Treasure Valley a little over year and a half ago, she has seen a myriad of success as a member of the Boise State Beach Volleyball program.
It almost didn’t happen.
Alden was carving out an impressive volleyball legacy before suffering what she believed to be a career-ending injury. As a high schooler at San Marco High School in Southern California, she set indoor volleyball program records for both career and single-season blocks. She helped lead the Knights to the San Diego Section I Division I Championship as a senior and a runner-up finish as a standout sophomore.
Her stellar play was noticed by San Jose State, who recruited her to play both indoor and beach volleyball. During her true freshman season, Alden recorded a team-best .375 hitting percentage - a mark that was the second-highest by any Spartan in 25 years. In the sand, she finished the year with a team-best 6-4 finish.
A promising career came crashing down in an instant.
While spending the summer at home, Alden was playing recreationally when a chance collision under the net sent her landing awkwardly on her left leg. She knew it was bad, but the extent of which surprised her.
Dislocated knee. Torn ACL. Fractured tibia. All at once.
Not one to get discouraged, Alden fought diligently through the rehab process. However, as she inched towards her target date, instead of feeling close to return she felt intense discomfort. A second opinion validated her concerns, revealing that the patellar graft had failed to heal properly at her kneecap. Another surgery, another year off the volleyball court.
Two and a half years removed from playing volleyball, she began to believe that her knee would never be ready for competitive play.
“It felt like my whole identity as not only an athlete but a person was stripped,” Alden said.
Her sister, Ensley, was still close with her club coach, who was the head beach volleyball coach at MiraCosta College who had coached her sister Ensley at the club level. He invited her to play a season of junior college volleyball.
The return was triumphant. Alden claimed the top position for the Spartans, finishing the year with a 17-9 record and leading the team to a second-place finish in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.
Her success found the attention of Alex Venardos, then an assistant beach volleyball coach for the Broncos. After witnessing her play in Huntington Beach, Calif, he offered a scholarship - the only Division I offer she would receive.
With a newfound appreciation for playing, Alden helped Boise State win its first regular season AND conference tournament championship last season, the latter of which helped the Blue and Orange participate in the program’s first NCAA National Tournament. Alden played a significant role, tallying a 15-7 record from court two before moving up to the top spot. Alden and partner Sharli O’Neil topped three ranked opponents on the season, were named first team all-conference, and Alden herself was named the SLC Newcomer of the Year.
Entering her final season of collegiate eligibility, Alden hopes to lead the Broncos to new heights as the program will compete in the Big 12 for the first time this season. Boise State will kick off its season on Feb. 20 at the Beach Burrow Bash in Boca Raton, Fla.